GAY marriage opponents within the federal Labor party have been told to pretend to support changing the law in public.

The Australian Labor Party has been accused of bullying tactics to silence members opposed to gay marriage following reports that Tasmanian senator Helen Polley was pressured into publicly changing her stance.

Senator Polley, a Catholic and a ‘no’ voter, has told The Australiansenior members of the party told her that her views could cost Labor votes at the next federal election.

Another Labor MP who wanted to remain anonymous has also told the publication they had faced pressure to publicly support gay marriage despite their private views.

Labor senator Helen Polley says she was pressured by senior ALP members to publicly back gay marriage.Source:Supplied

Leading No vote campaigner Lyle Shelton and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson have slammed the party for silencing its members on the issue.

“To have rainbow smoke puffing up — I mean this rainbow political flag represents teaching your children that their gender is fluid,” he said.

“I think Australians are only starting to dawn on what is actually part of this political movement. For the NRL to be part of that is disappointing.”

Senator Polley refused to reveal which senior members of the ALP had told her to pretend to support gay marriage in public but she said she would not cave in to pressure.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has been outspoken in his support for gay marriage despite slamming the government’s $122 million postal survey. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

“It would be much easier for my life, in some respects, in dealing with my colleagues to change my position and support same-sex marriage,” she told The Australian.

“There is pressure from outside, there is pressure from friends, from colleagues, from staffers. There are other people, and people who I have respect for, who say: we have tried everything, she is not going to move. I’ve had all sorts of propositions put to me.

“But I have to be true to the people who elected me, the people who supported me over three elections campaigns and still contact me.”

Labor leader Bill Shorten has been outspoken in his support for gay marriage despite slamming the government’s $122 million postal survey.

A spokesman for Mr Shorten said: “Labor’s policy is for all MPs and Senators to exercise a free vote in the parliament.”

“If Mr Turnbull allowed a free vote in the parliament, marriage equality would be a reality today,” he said.

“This postal survey is a $122 million waste of money.

“It should never have happened, but now that it is happening, Bill is campaigning hard for a Yes vote.

“As Bill has said many times before, the overwhelming majority of Labor members support marriage equality.”